Jakarta, Jan. 19 -- President Prabowo Subianto has instructed the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) to conduct search and rescue operations following the crash of an Indonesia Air Transport ATR 42-500 in the Bulusaraung mountain area, South Sulawesi.

State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi said that when the accident occurred on Saturday (January 17), President Prabowo was leading a limited meeting and received reports that the aircraft had lost contact while approaching Hasanuddin Airport in Makassar.

"At that time, he instructed all relevant personnel to immediately carry out the search. Once the coordinates of the crash site are found, evacuation must be conducted as quickly as possible," he said here on Monday.

Prasetyo a...